As a teen, Hall put together a band called the Kentucky Travelers that performed before movies for a travelling theater. During a stint in the Army, Hall performed over the Armed Forces Radio Network and wrote comic songs about Army experiences. His early career included being a radio announcer at WRON, a local radio station in Ronceverte, West Virginia.
Hall's big break came in 1963 when singer Jimmy C. Newman recorded his song "DJ For a Day." In 1964 Hall moved to Nashville, TN, and within months had songs climbing the charts. Nicknamed "The Story Teller", he has written songs for dozens of country stars such as Johnny Cash, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings, and Alan Jackson.
One of the most popular songs, "Harper Valley PTA", was originally recorded in 1968 by Jeannie C. Riley, sold over six million copies, and won both a Grammy and CMA award. The song later would inspire the motion picture and television program of the same name.
Hall's own recording career took off after that and he had such hits as "A Week in the Country Jail," "Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine," "I Love," "Country Is", "The Year Clayton Delaney Died," "The Old Side of Town," and "I Like Beer." He was also noted for his children's songs, the most popular being "Sneaky Snake".
He also hosted the syndicated country music TV show Pop Goes the Country.
His son, Dean Hall, is also a singer and is member of the MuzikMafia.
A hard-rock adaptation of his song I love was featured in a series of successful television commercials for Coors beer.
Hall largely retired from writing new material in 1986 and from performing in 1994; his final public performance, which was also his first in several years, was in 2011.
Discography
Singles Written and Performed By Tom T. Hall
* "I Washed My Face in the Morning Dew" (#30, 1967)
* "Ain't Got The Time" (#68, 1968)
* "The World The Way I Want It" (#66, 1968)
* "Ballad of Forty Dollars" (#4, 1969)
* "Homecoming" (#5, 1969)
* "Strawberry Farms" (#40, 1969)
* "Day Drinkin'" (#23, 1970)
* "Salute to a Switchblade" (#8, 1970)
* "Shoeshine Man" (#8, 1970)
* "A Week in a Country Jail" (#1, 1970)
* "Ode to Half a Pound of Ground Round" (#21, 1971)
* "One Hundred Children" (#14, 1971)
* "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" (#1, 1971) (also reached #42 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "Me and Jesus" (#8, 1972) (also reached #92 on the Pop Chart)
* "More About John Henry" (#26, 1972)
* "The Monkey That Became President" (#11, 1972)
* "Old Dogs, Children, And Watermelon Wine" (#1, 1973)
* "Ravishing Ruby" (#3, 1973)
* "Spokane Motel Blues" (#16, 1973)
* "Watergate Blues" (#16, 1973)
* "Country Is" (#1, 1974)
* "I Love" (#1, 1974) (also reached #2 on the Adult Contemporary Chart and #12 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "Sneaky Snake" (#69, 1974) (reached #55 on the Pop Singles Chart the following year)
* "That Song Is Driving Me Crazy" (#2, 1974) (also reached #63 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "Deal" (#8, 1975)
* "I Care" (#1, 1975)
* "I Like Beer" (#4, 1975)
* "Faster Horses (The Cowboy And The Poet)" (#1, 1976)
* "Fox On The Run" (#9, 1976)
* "Negatory Romance" (#24, 1976)
* "It's All in the Game" (#12, 1977)
* "Your Man Loves You, Honey" (#4, 1977)
* "What Have You Got to Lose" (#9, 1978)
* "Son of Clayton Delaney" (#14, 1979)
* "You Show Me Your Heart (And I'll Show You Mine)" (#11, 1979)
* "Back When Gas Was Thirty Cents a Gallon" (#36, 1980)
* "Jesus On the Radio (Daddy On the Phone)" (#9, 1980)
* "Solder Of Fortune" (#51, 1980)
* "The Old Side of Town" (#9, 1980)
* "Everything From Jesus To Jack Daniels (#42, 1983)
* "P.S. I Love You" (#8, 1984)
* "A Bar with No Beer" (#40, 1985)
* "Down At The Mall" (#65, 1986)
Singles Written By Tom T. Hall But Performed By Other Artists
* "Mad" performed by Dave Dudley (#6, 1964)
* "Artificial Rose" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#8, 1965)
* "Back In Circulation" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#13, 1965)
* "City of the Angels" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#37, 1965)
* "What We're Fighting For" performed by Dave Dudley (#4, 1966)
* "Back Pocket Money" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#10, 1966)
* "California Uptight Band" performed by Flatt & Scruggs (#20, 1967)
* "Dropping Out of Sight" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#32, 1967)
* "Louisiana Saturday Night" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#24, 1967)
* "Town That Broke My Heart" performed by Bobby Bare (#16, 1968)
* "Anything Leaving Town Today" performed by Dave Dudley (#12, 1968)
* "There Ain't No Easy Run" performed by Dave Dudley (#10, 1968)
* "Harper Valley PTA" performed by Jeannie C. Riley (#1, 1968) (also reached #1 on the Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the Adult Contemporary Chart)
* "Greenwich Village Folk Song Salesman" performed by Jim & Jesse (#49, 1968)
* "(Margie's At) The Lincoln Park Inn" performed by Bobby Bare (#4, 1969)
* "George (And the Northwoods)" performed by Dave Dudley (#10, 1969)
* "One More Mile" performed by Dave Dudley (#12, 1969)
* "Boo Dan" peroformed by Jimmy C. Newman (#31, 1969)
* "That's How I Got To Memphis" performed by Bobby Bare (#3, 1970)
* "Pool Shark" performed by Dave Dudley (#1, 1970)
* "If I Ever Fall in Love (With a Honky Tonk Girl)" performed by Faron Young (#4, 1970)
* "Second Handed Flowers" performed by George Jones (#5, 1972)
* "You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)" performed by Johnny Rodriguez (#1, 1973) (also #86 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "I Can Still Hear the Music in the Restroom" performed by Jerry Lee Lewis (#13, 1975)
* "I'm Not Ready Yet" performed by George Jones (#2, 1980)
* "Dropping Out Of Sight" performed by Bobby Bare (#35, 1981)
* "Little Bitty" performed by Alan Jackson (#1, 1996)
* "That's How I Got To Memphis" performed by Deryl Dodd (#36, 1996)
I Can't Dance
Tom T. Hall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been thinking 'bout dancing with you, but I'm afraid of hurtin' my back
I don't know what you're doing but I like everything you do
Just for a little bit baby I'd come out and dance with you
[Chorus]
But I can't dance and I'm feeling so good
Some of us can and some of us can't and some of us wish that we could dance
Just for a little bit, baby, I'd come out and dance with you
My mind is out there with you now but I can't get my body to move
Sitting here falling in love, love, love thinking something I can't prove
My soul is willing and my mind is ready but it's something that I never could do
Just for a little bit, baby, I'd come out and dance with you
[Chorus]
In Tom T. Hall's song I Can't Dance, the singer laments his inability to dance, revealing a vulnerability and self-consciousness that is relatable to many. He admits that his feet don't match and he's afraid of hurting his back. Despite his reservations, he confesses that he's been thinking about dancing with a particular person, admiring everything about them. He longs to join them on the dance floor, if only for a little while.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that dancing is not something that everyone can do, and that some of us have to accept that we simply can't. The singer recognizes that he's one of the unfortunate few who can't dance, but still holds out hope that he can join in with the person he's interested in, if only briefly.
The second verse continues the singer's internal struggle, as he reveals that his mind is with the other person but his body won't cooperate. He's falling in love with them, but can't prove it. The final lines again express the fact that he's willing but unable to dance, but he's still hopeful that he can join in with the person he's interested in.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't dance and I never could, I guess my feet don't match
I am incapable of dancing, it seems my feet don't coordinate properly.
I've been thinking 'bout dancing with you, but I'm afraid of hurtin' my back
I've considered the idea of dancing with you, but I fear it may result in me injuring my back.
I don't know what you're doing but I like everything you do
I am uncertain of your actions, but quite fond of them nonetheless.
Just for a little bit baby I'd come out and dance with you
For a brief moment, I would join you in dancing.
Some of us can and some of us can't and some of us wish that we could dance
Some individuals possess the ability to dance, while others do not, and a few aspire to be able to dance.
Some can't dance and I guess I'm just one of the unfortunate few
Some individuals are unable to dance, and I am one of the unlucky few.
My mind is out there with you now but I can't get my body to move
My thoughts are focused on you, but I am unable to get my body to budge.
Sitting here falling in love, love, love thinking something I can't prove
I'm currently sitting here falling in love with you, but unable to articulate these feelings to you.
My soul is willing and my mind is ready but it's something that I never could do
While my soul is eager and my mind is prepared, dancing is a skill I have not yet mastered.
Just for a little bit, baby, I'd come out and dance with you
For a brief moment, I would join you in dancing.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOM T. HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vinyl LP Care
Great version! I've only ever heard the Gram Parsons' cover on 'Grievous Angel' but this one is great. Such a shame to have lost such a talented artist! RIP.
Billy Brent Malkus
"If I can't dance, it's not my revolution" - Emma Goldman
"I can't dance" - Tom T. Hall
Remington Riders
Perfect. 😊
Gertyggg Tyu
great song tom t hall
robert craft
RIP T.
Sjoren Senestraro
Oh yeah baby, gram parsons baby, oh yeah, baby, gramp, arsons, ba,bie